Science in the Community: Stories

Superstorm Sandy Relief Efforts at Brookhaven National Laboratory
Brookhaven Science Associates donated $50,000 last November to support ongoing local disaster relief efforts following Superstorm Sandy. The donation came from BSA’s two partners — Battelle and Stony Brook University — which each donated $25,000 on behalf of BSA. In addition to the $50,000 donation, BSA matched dollar-for-dollar all BSA/BNL employee donations up to another $25,000. Donated funds are helping to support three local organizations: Island Harvest, Tri-Hamlet Disaster Relief Organization, and Rebuilding Together Long Island. BSA selected these organizations because they are on the front lines of the disaster — working closely with Long Islanders to help with immediate relief needs as well as long-term recovery. http://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=11498

Bucket BrigadeIn their usual spirit of generosity, Brookhaven Science Associates/Brookhaven Lab employees didn’t hesitate when a call went out asking for donations of cleaning supplies that would help fellow Long Islanders clean up their homes after being hit by Superstorm Sandy. BNL employees filled 200 buckets with cleaning supplies including laundry detergent, gloves, paper towels, tools and dust masks. Buckets were delivered to hurricane relief sites in Babylon and Lindenhurst, just two of the neighborhoods to suffer massive damage from the storm and where residents were in great need of supplies rakes and shovels. http://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=23503

Brookhaven Science Associates Donates Food to Local Pantry
Employee volunteers and family and friends from Brookhaven Science Associates and volunteers from Island Harvest found themselves working side-by-side on a frosty January morning, loading food and supplies at a local food pantry. The food and supplies were generously donated by Brookhaven Science Associates, the company that manages Brookhaven National Laboratory. Island Harvest is Long Island’s largest hunger relief organization and distributes food and supplies to over 570 food pantries. The effort was coordinated by Island Harvest with the Lab’s Community Relations Office. These food items and supplies were made readily available to the Lab’s neighbors in Mastic Beach, many of whom were affected by, and are still trying to recover from, the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy. Brookhaven Science Associates is the first corporate recovery team to work with Island Harvest.http://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=23645

Superstorm Sandy Crews Enjoy Thanksgiving Meal at BNLSuperstorm Sandy left many Long Islanders and our neighbors on the east coast dealing with damage, and in some cases, total destruction of homes and property. But thanks to the dedicated workers from organizations including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the National Park Service (NPS), Long Islanders are already on the road to recovery. For the several weeks, approximately 80 employees of FEMA and NPS stayed at the Lab’s Compton House dormitory. In essence, the dormitory has become their “home away from home.” The workers, who were deployed to various locations around Long Island including Fire Island spend their days guiding and assisting Long Islanders in applying for FEMA funds, assessing damage, and developing a plan to rebuild neighborhoods and parks. As a “thank you,” BNL provided these hard-working crews with an old fashioned Thanksgiving turkey dinner. BNL volunteers were on hand to decorate the recreation center in a Thanksgiving motif and help serve the meal to the visitors. http://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=23480

BNLers Help Brighten Holidays for Local Superstorm Sandy VictimsAfter Superstorm Sandy ripped up the east coast leaving devastation in its path, BNLers wanted to come together to help local neighbors who had lost their homes and personal belongings. It was likely that these victims of Sandy wouldn’t be celebrating the holidays in usual fashion. So, Brookhaven Lab made some inquiries and volunteered to participate in the “Adopt-A-Family” program sponsored by Colonial Youth and Family Services. After asking what the neighbors to Brookhaven’s south impacted by the storm needed most, the Lab was provided a list of 12 families with their ages, clothing sizes, and of course, their Santa wish list.A plea went out to all BNL staff asking if they would be willing to “adopt a family” for the 2012 holiday season. BNLers didn’t hesitate at the chance to help out and shopped for toys, clothing, food, and also bought gift cards with the leftover cash they had collected. http://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=23543

Brookhaven Lab Supports Superstorm Sandy Clean Up
Brookhaven National Laboratory employees joined forces with other volunteer organizations in January 2013 to help clean up debris washed ashore by the high tides and winds from Superstorm Sandy that still littered the beachfront and adjacent roads in the Lab's neighboring community of Mastic Beach. Brookhaven Science Associates (BSA), the company that manages and operates Brookhaven Lab for the U.S. Department of Energy, provided safety vests and warm hats to BSA volunteers, and clean up supplies to all who were willing to spend a few hours walking through mud on a damp January Saturday, picking up debris that could pollute the bay and damage its fragile wetlands.http://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=23606

Brookhaven Science Associates Donates $20,000 for Weekly Delivery of Organic Vegetables to Local Food PantryBrookhaven Science Associates (BSA), the company that manages Brookhaven National Laboratory for the U.S. Department of Energy, has donated $20,000 to provide weekly deliveries of fresh, organic vegetables for families served by the Mastics and Shirley Community Emergency Food Center. BSA's donation is providing seasonal, fresh-picked crops to feed 50 or more families each week between now and December 5. The vegetables are grown and delivered by Green Thumb Organic Farm of Watermill, N.Y. through its community-supported agriculture program. The first delivery of vegetables arrived at the pantry on Thursday, June 20.http://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=11555

BSA & Employees Donate $10,000 and Help Build Home For Local Family
On Friday, September 27, Brookhaven National Laboratory/Brookhaven Science Associates volunteers joined volunteers from Bank of America and National Grid on a Habitat for Humanity building site in Mastic Beach. A dozen Brookhaven employees were part of the group that raised the first four walls on a home for veteran Kimberly Gilbreath and her teenage daughter Ryan. Habitat for Humanity of Suffolk teamed up with BSA to help make her dream of home ownership a reality. BSA donated $10,000 to this project, half of the $20,000 it gave to Habitat for Humanity as part of its Superstorm Sandy relief effort. The team raised four walls, added sheathing, and attached hurricane straps to fortify the home against future storms. Employees will have continued opportunities to help complete the home during its construction. http://www.bnl.gov/newsroom/news.php?a=24299

One of ten national laboratories overseen and primarily funded by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Brookhaven National Laboratory conducts research in the physical, biomedical, and environmental sciences, as well as in energy technologies and national security. Brookhaven Lab also builds and operates major scientific facilities available to university, industry and government researchers. Brookhaven is operated and managed for DOE’s Office of Science by Brookhaven Science Associates, a limited-liability company founded by Stony Brook University, the largest academic user of Laboratory facilities, and Battelle, a nonprofit, applied science and technology organization.